25 Weeks Pregnant

I feel like I see my belly as a lot bigger than it really is. Or at the very least a lot bigger than it looks to others. I also feel like photos of my belly always make it look smaller than it is? Because when I look down I just see a big bump that covers my feet and can only see the ends of my toes? Anyway.. Every conversation I have with a stranger goes like this:

“Do you want an ‘xyz alcoholic beverage’?”

Me: “Oh, I can’t. I’m pregnant. So yes, but also no (haha).”

Them: “OH. Sorry. That’s amazing! Congrats, how far along are you?”

Me: Answers with whatever week I’m at.

Them: “Are you sure? Seriously? You’re due in September? You’re way to small to be that far along. Are you sure he’s in there? Man, you look GREAT.”

Me: “Oh, yeah, I mean, all of the measurements are perfect for where I am, but I’m having an issue with continually losing weight no matter what I eat for some reason. I guess he’s just taking all of my food.”

Them: “That’s AWESOME. GOOD FOR YOU. WOW.”

Me: Not sure how to respond.

Truly, to strangers, I don’t know what to say after that. With friends who also seem to think it’s great that I’ve continually lost weight despite eating more than ever, I just say that I’d rather not be losing weight and that for someone my weight, I SHOULDN’T be, so I don’t see it as a good thing, I’d rather be gaining the weight I need to gain. With strangers I just change the subject. Right now I’m not worried because Alex is growing GREAT and he’s super strong and active and I still feel really great physically most of the time, but if the pattern of weight loss continues I’ll start to worry.

Other than that, there aren’t any notable things going on with my body. I pulled a muscle on the upper left side of my back which took a couple of weeks to heal but it’s pretty much all better now and it wasn’t related to pregnancy (except maybe looser ligaments that are more prone to injury now?). My belly keeps growing, my boobs keep growing, my hair is thicker, that kind of normal stuff. My lower back is still pain free and I don’t experience the extreme headaches I was getting at one point in my early second trimester so that’s good! I feel like my leg muscles, heart and lungs are stronger now than they were pre-pregnancy which I’m happy about because that will serve me well in labor 🙂

FOOD

Ummmm, trying to eat more food than I physically feel hungry for so that I don’t continue losing weight. Admittedly food feels stressful for me after every midwife appointment where I find out I’ve lost weight… because I feel like I HAVE TO EAT SO MUCH FOOD and it becomes an obligation and stops being enjoyable, but I’m trying to find more joy in it again. Snacks have started becoming more satisfying than most of my meals so I just snack more for now. I still have a full dinner every night which I usually enjoy, but I don’t get excited about breakfast or lunch foods.

Lately I’m eating oatmeal raisin cookies with my coffee every morning (pictured is what was left after I’d eaten most of it, the cat likes to think she can have some…. she can’t). An hour later it’s followed up by toast with more peanut butter than will stay on the bread and some banana slices. Sometimes a glass of milk although that isn’t my favorite beverage these days.

I eat plenty of other things… cheeseburgers being a regular… but the above are just what I prefer. I don’t get excited about anything else right now. 3am snacks have become necessary most nights as I get close to the third trimester. I’m just hungry so often. Normally I grab cottage cheese or pb on bread or something but I’m starting to keep KIND bars/ banana muffins in my room so I can just grab those and go back to sleep instead of going downstairs at night.

MOVEMENT

Still just walking everyday. With consistent weight loss being an issue, I’m not doing anything above walking EXCEPT on the odd days I feel like I have a lot of energy to get out/I havent walked. That might look like 30 mins of a cardio-esque fitness blender video that I modify to be low impact and I just do at a slower pace, and other times I’ve been getting in some pilates to keep my back and leg muscles strong for labor. Those things don’t happen often… mostly I’m just walking for an hour or more a day. Anything over an hour and a half gives me achy hips so I keep it under that. That sounds like a lot, but it isn’t for me and I honestly need to do daily movement to keep my mood more stable. I need the endorphins to counteract some of the blahness of pregnancy. It keeps me feeling good and keeps me strong for labor and recovery.

MOOD

SO up and and down. I wouldn’t say when I’m down I’m depressed… but I get in to moods where I just feel like a useless blob and I’m not being productive in any way. That usually happens when I haven’t slept well or if I’ve been forgetting a lot of things lately or sometimes just if the weather is crap. My husband tells me I’m doing the most important job there is of growing our son, but it never feels that way. However those moods don’t last long before I’m back to being general positive/upbeat. Movement is huge for that for me. Also huge is regularly seeing friends and family so I just make sure to do that. Mostly I’m just impatient for Alex to be here. I’m very ready to be his mom.

THINGS I’VE DONE

Watched a lot of breastfeeding videos. It somewhat terrifies me sometimes, but I know we’ll figure it out.

Read up on natural ways to cope with labor since I’m going the unmedicated route at my midwives birthing suite (unless medically necessary to go to the hospital for intervention of course). As well as the stages of labor/what to expect/yadda yadda. Zero percent of me fears labor which I’m grateful for. I know it has to happen to get Alex here and I very much want Alex here.. therefore I want labor I guess? When he’s fully cooked, of course.

That’s it. In August I plan on prepping myself more, but it feels pointless to do much else until then.

COOLEST THING ABOUT PREGNANCY

Alex moving/twisting/punching/kicking. I often just stare at my belly and watch it move with him and I find it so cool. Sometimes his movements feel VERY strange and alien like, and sometimes I can’t quite sort out what he’s doing, but mostly it’s magical. I’ll miss it I’m sure. Though I won’t miss the 3am kicks when he seems to have the most energy.

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I’m Amanda Reynolds. A wife, cook, baker, pretend picture taker and lover of all things fall.
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I’m Amanda Reynolds. A wife, cook, baker, pretend picture taker and lover of all things fall. I hope you’ll follow along as I cook delicious healthy food, try to live a more compassionate life and hopefully start each day a little better than we were yesterday.